Can Multicultural Coexistence Set Up against Nativism?

Abstract

  The aim of this paper is to examine how the notion of multicultural coexistence can confront nativism. While many researchers have criticized flaws of Japan’s multiculturalism, it is equally important to consider how we can make use of few discursive resources to promote diversity. I explore the research question by analyzing policy documents of local governments regarding multicultural coexistence. Based on Taguieff’s idea to distinguish differentialist and universalist racism and antiracism, I examine the relation between two types of multicultural coexistence (based on anti discrimination and international exchange) and nativism (based on dyadic and triadic relations). My findings are as follows. (1) anti-discriminatory multicultural coexistence can confront dyadic nativism but fails to control triadic nativism. (2) while multicultural coexistence based on international exchange is ineffective to face dyadic nativism, it can confront triadic nativism.